By Sheetal Kumari | October 06, 2025

10 Smartest Fish in the World

Manta Ray

The biggest brain of any fish, manta rays demonstrate problem-solving ability, self-awareness, and even social understanding in their water behavior.

Image: Canva

Cleaner Wrasse

Tiny fish that recognise themselves in mirrors and form cooperative bonds by cleaning parasites off other fish.

Image: Canva

Elephantnose Fish

This fish has renowned memory and navigation ability and uses weak electric fields to talk and search around.

Image: Canva

Archerfish

Renowned for spitting accurate plumes of water to dislodge insects, archerfish acquire and refine their aim by observation and experience.

Image: Canva

Cichlids

Strategic and highly social, cichlids exhibit parental care, sophisticated mating rituals, and impressive adaptability in a changeable environment.

Image: Canva

Gobies

Gobies learn tidal cycles and bound between tide pools with precision, exhibiting advanced spatial memory and rapid decision-making.

Image: Canva

Parrotfish

These vibrant reef inhabitants construct mucus “sleeping bags” for protection and exhibit a sophisticated social hierarchy demonstrating intelligence and cooperation.

Image: Canva

Goldfish

Goldfish have excellent memory abilities, learning tricks, recognizing faces, and solving mazes, contrary to myth.

Image: Canva

Killifish

Killifish learn rapidly and adjust quickly to changing circumstances, with problem-solving abilities and astounding learning capabilities under adverse conditions.

Image: Canva

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout have robust memory and learning, routinely solving puzzles during laboratory tests and adjusting hunting techniques in the wild.

Image: Canva

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